Teen Refugee Who Fled America Shot To Death At Laundromat

December Htoo was a joyful teen who enjoyed wrestling and is described as always having energy and a smile. The teen immigrated to America as a refugee and was working at a laundromat when he was fatally shot four times.

<span style="margin-top:15px;rgba(42,51,6,0.7);font-size:12px;">Credit: The Kansas City Star</span>

Htoo's wrestling coach, Zach Davies, said, "It didn’t matter what we coaches taught him, he had his own style. He had more natural talent than I’ve seen in a long time." He went to school at J.C. Harmon High School in Kansas City, Kansas. "He lived in his own world, but it was a big, nice, happy world." Davies lamented the young wrestler's passing.

The 15-year-old refugee was shot to death in a coin-operated laundromat where he was working on Friday night. The teen wrestler had come so far only to be gunned down in America. He grew up in difficult circumstances at an Asian refugee camp, but despite that, he was known for spreading joy.

Davies continued, "He was so full of joy. The maddest part of this is that he came here for a better life — for a safe place." Htoo was Kansas City's 33rd homicide victim in 2017. He was shot four times Friday night at the laundromat in the 2400 block of South 34th Street in the Argentine neighborhood and his body wasn't discovered until the next day.

December Htoo's 14-year-old brother, Kyaw Wah, described his older sibling saying, "All he wanted to do is follow his dream." He also said his brother enjoyed wrestling immensely and planned to become a mixed martial arts fighter. Kyaw continued, "My brother was a great person. He’s got no enemy. … He’s got, great friends. Everybody loved him."

Classmates came to the laundromat where he died to stuffed animals and a Go Fund Me campaign was started to help raise money for funeral expenses. Kansas City police are calling the shooting a homicide and are asking for help from the public to identify the killer. Police are asking anyone who was at the laundromat between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Friday to come forward with any information.

If you have any information that could lead to the arrest December Htoo's killer police are asking you to call 913-573-6030 or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).